Dual sill shock absorber mounting



p 23, 1965 w. H. PETERSON ETAL 3,208,599

DUAL SILL SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING INVENTORS WILLIAM H. PETERSON NETH .J USTGEN Z MWM FLPCH,

7 Sept 2s, 1965 W. H. PETERSON ETAL DUAL SILL SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 INVENTORS. W|LL|AM H. PETERSON KENNETH J.AUSTGEN MW M p 23, 1965 w. H. PETERSON ETAL 3,208,599

DUAL SILL SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 8 4 4 2: 4 U I m ll I 2 [1/ .W/, 1 9 5, 9 7 r lrl 23 INVENTORS. WILLIAM H. PETERSON BY KENNETH J.AUSTGEN Sept. 28, 1965 w. H. PETERSON ETAL 3,208,599

DUAL SILL SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 15, 1964 s R N 1 SE H TRG m y H m WP WKW United States Patent 3,208,599 DUAL SILL SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTING William H. Peterson, Homewood, Ill., and Kenneth J.

Austgen, Griffith, Ind., assignors to Pullman Incorporated, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 337,843 4 Claims. (Cl. 213-40) The present invention relates to resilient shock absorbing devices for railway cars, and more particularly to a new and improved resilient cushion device of the type employed in a dual sliding sill of a cushion underframe railway car wherein the resilient cushion device serves to relieve the tension and compression loading on the sliding sill.

A dual sliding sill to which the resilient cushion device of the present invention relates and to which reference is made for a more detailed description is disclosed in copending US. Application Serial No. 196,320 filed May 21, 1962 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The dual sliding sill comprises generally a pair of sliding sill sections connected for lengthwise movement relative to each other from a neutral position to an abutting position and an extended position upon buff and draft impacts, respectively, on the couplers carried by the remote ends of the sliding sill sections. When the sill sections are in the extended or abutting positions, the sections are conjointly slidable within a more or less standard Z-section stationary sill for lengthwise movement thereof.

Disposed to interact between the sliding sill sections during relative movement thereof to the extended and buff positions so as to relieve the tension and compression loading on the sliding sill is a resilient shock absorbing unit. A cushion unit is also disposed between the stationary sill and the dual sliding sill to interact therebetween and absorb a portion of the coupler impact so as to protect the car body and the lading from damage.

In the preferred form of the invention described in the aforementioned application, the resilient shock absorbing device and the cushion device are arranged so that at least a portion of the travel of the latter is utilized at the same time that the sliding sill sections are traveling to the buff position thereof. In this manner the resisting forces of both the resilient shock absorbing unit and the cushion device are utilized to relieve the compression loading through the sliding sill.

The present invention is directed primarily to the construction of the resilient shock absorbing unit and has for its object to provide an improved resilient shock absorbing unit which facilitates the mounting thereof in the dual sliding sill.

It is a further object to provide an improved resilient shock absorbing device for a dual sliding sill which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture.

It is still a further object to provide an improved resilient shock absorbing device for a dual sliding sill which is constructed to maintain the cushion mounted in the dual sliding sill in a manner substantially precluding lengthwise undulation during compression thereof.

Further objects and features will hereinafter appear:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a dual sliding sill embodying a resilient shock absorbing device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section view taken generally along the lines 22 of FIG. 1 but with the yoke legs along one side being omittedfor purpose of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the railway car center sill showing the dual sliding sill disposed therein with some of the parts being broken away and in section to show underlying details of structure;

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FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along the lines 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a set of three of the resilient pad members of which one of the units is provided with restraining tabs and the remaining two are formed with diagonal clearance corners; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-section view taken generally along the lines 8-8 showing the manner in which the rubber pads are fixed to the metallic discs.

Referring now to the figures, particularly FIGS. l6, the resilient shock absorbing device 10 of the present invention is shown in a dual sliding sill 11 which is slidably supported in a center or stationary sill 12 of a railway car having a suitable car body structure.

The dual sliding sill 11 comprises generally a pair of sill sections 13 and 14 movable lengthwise relatively to each other. The sill sections are each preferably formed in an H-section having vertical side webs 16 between the upper and lower edges of which there extends a horizontal web 17.

The horizontal web 17 of the sliding sill section 13 is formed with a cut-out or opening 15 inwardly of the end which is adjacent to the sill section 14. Received within the cut out, as more fully to be explained hereinafter, is the resilient shock absorbing device or unit 10. The resilient shock absorbing device is of the general type including a compressible resilient material which provides a variable increasing force resisting the compres- Fixed to the sill section 14 for movement therewith are the legs 18 of yokes 19 which extend over the sill section 13 and embrace the resilient shock absorbing device 10 above and below the horizontal web 17 thereof. The legs 18 of the yoke members 19 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are spaced from the vertical webs 16 and horizontal web 17 of the sill section 13 so that the latter is freely movable relative to the sill section 14.

Extending and fixed across the terminal ends of the legs 18 are draft plates 21 which engage the outer end of the resilient shock absorbing device 10. Extending and fixed across the yoke legs 18 inwardly of the terminal ends so as to engage the inner end of the resilient shock absorbing device 10 are bulf plates 22. Moreover, fixed to the upper and lower sides of the horizontal web 17 are stop lugs 21a which also are engageable with the outer end of the shock absorbing device 10. At the other end, the resilient shock absorbing device 10 is engageable with the ends of pusher bars 23 fixed to the horizontal web 17 so as to be movable with the sill section 13.

The pusher bars 23, as shown in FIG. 3, extend into the sill section 14 in spaced relationship with the upper and lower sides of the horizontal web 17. The terminal ends of the pusher bars 23 engage a follower plate of a cushion unit 24. The cushion unit 24 serves primarily to provide lading and car body protection and is also utilized to relieve the compression loading through the dual sliding sill 11 as more fully to be explained hereinafter.

The cushion unit or device 24 is disposed within a cushion pocket 26 including an opening 27 formed in the horizontal web of the sliding sill section 14. Supporting the cushion device 10 is a bottom cover plate 28 detachably secured across the vertical webs or flanges 16. Extending across and fixed to the upper edges of the flanges 16 is a top cover plate 29.

The cushion device 24 may be of any suitable type and may be a long travel hydraulic cushion having a travel of a between about 20 to 40 inches, preferably 30 inches, in either direction. Advantageously, the cushion device may have a substantially constant force-travel closure characteristic. One such cushion device which may be employed is described in U.S. Patent 3,003,436, to which reference is made for a more detailed description.

The above described dual sliding sill 11 is slidably supported with the hollow 31 of the stationary sill by a plurality of lengthwise spaced supporting channels 32 which are detachably secured across the outwardly projecting flanges 33 of the stationary sill 12. As shown in FIG. 3, two of the supporting channels 32 are located along the ends of the cushion pocket 27. Fixed to the supporting channels 32 are stop lugs 34 and 36 which contact the opposite ends of the cushion device 24. Similarly space stop lugs 34a and 36a are fixed to the top of the stationary sill 12.

In operation, upon impact at one of the couplers (not shown) carried on the remote ends of the sill sections 13 and 14, the sill section associated with the coupler receiving the impact moves within the stationary sill in the direction of the force of impact relatively to the other sill section which, at least during the initial impact, remains substantially stationary. Hence, in the event that the impact is applied in draft so that the sill sections 13 and 14 are extended relatively to each other, the draft plates 21 of yokes 19 are operative to compress the resilient shock absorbing unit 10, so as to resist the force of impact. Similarly, upon buif impact to one of the couplers, the buff plate 22 engages the inner end of the resilient shock absorbing unit so that it is compressed in the direction opposite to that caused by the draft impact.

Generally in train operation the impact encountered in draft is of a lesser magnitude than that encountered in buif impact such that the full length of travel of the resilient shock absorbing unit 10 may not be employed. However, upon buff impact the magnitude of the force is usually such that the full travel'of the resilient shock absorbing unit 10 occurs, whereupon the adjacent end faces 13a and 14a of the sliding sill sections 13 and 14 abut. Under these conditions the resilient shock absorbing device 10 is completely compressed.

During movement of the sill sections 13 and 14 toward the abutting position, the cushion device 24 is concurrently partially compressed against the stationary sill stops 34-34:: or 3636a which oppose the direction of movement of the sill section against which the impact force is applied. The partial travel of the cushion device 24 thus provides an energy absorbing capacity which is more or less cumulative with that of the resilient shock absorbing device 10.

When the sliding sill sections 13 and 14 are in abutting position the sill sections move conjointly relatively to the stationary sill 12. During this conjoint movement the cushion device 24 is further compressed to the full extent of its travel and further suflicient kinetic energy of the impact is absorbed to provide protection for the car body and the lading carried thereon.

As shown, the resilient shock absorbing unit 19 comprises generally an outer follower block 37 which is engageable with the draft plates 21 and an inner follower block 38 which is engageable with the buff plates 22. Disposed between the outer and inner follower blocks are a plurality of resilient pad units 39 and 41.

As shown in FIG. 8, the resilient pad units 39 each include a metal plate having openings into which there are molded rubber pads 44. The resilient pad units 41 are similarly formed with a metal plate 46 having the rubber pads 44 molded thereon. The faces of the rubber pads in the assembled units are in frictional face-to-face contact. During compression thereof, particularly under the impact forces encountered in buif, there is a tendency for the rubber faces to slip such that the resilient shock absorbing unit undulates. Undulation of the resilient shock absorbing device It) causes portions of the latter to extend beyond the upper edges of the sliding sill flanges such that it engages the inner top wall of the stationary sill and interferes with the lengthwise movement of dual sliding sill within the stationary sill and thereby reduces the effectiveness of the cushion unit in achieving lading and car body protection.

In accordance with the present invention the resilient pad units 39 and 41 are constructed so as to obviate the problem of undulation during compression. This is accomplished by forming the metal plates 42 and 46 and the follower blocks 37 and 38 with outwardly projecting shoulders 4747 at the upper ends thereof which overlie the yoke legs 18 of the upper one of the yokes 19. In this manner the follower blocks 37 and 38 and resilient pad units 42 and 46 are supported within the web opening 15. To preclude the upward undulation, selectively spaced between the follower blocks 37 and 38 the metal plates 46 of the units 41 are formed with bendable restraining tabs 48 which are adapted to underlie the yoke legs 18 of the lower one of the yokes 19. The tabs 48 in the operative position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 are bent at an angle with respect to the plane of the metal plates, say, for example, at angle of about 60.

As shown in particular in FIG. 7, prior to the installation of the resilient pad units 41 the tabs 48 are bent at a right angle to permit the insertion through the opening 15. When thus bent the tabs 48 are of such length as to underlie and project above the lower edge of the metal plates 42 of the units 39. To avoid striking of the lower edge, the lower corners are formed with a bevel 49 sufiicient to accommodate the right angularly bent tabs 48. After the resilient shock absorber unit 10 is disposed and assembled within the opening 15 with the shoulders engaging the legs 18 of the upper yoke 19, the tabs are bent to the 60 degree angularity. To facilitate the bending of the tabs to and from the right angular relationship the side edge of the plate 46 above the tabs are indented as by elongate cut-outs 50.

What is claimed is:

1. A resilient shock absorbing device for a dual sliding sill comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced follower blocks, a plurality of resilient pad units disposed between said blocks, said resilient pad units each including a metal plate, resilient compressible pads on said metal plates on the opposite faces thereof, said resilient compressible pads of each of said units being in face-to-face relationship, outwardly projecting horizontal shoulders formed on the upper ends of said follower blocks and said metal plates, said shoulders being adapted to support said follower blocks and said resilient pad units on yoke leg means of said dual sliding sill, and at least some of said metal plates having tabs along the lower portions thereof bent at an angle relative to the plane of said plate so as to be adapted to underlie the underside of said yoke leg means of said dual sliding sill so as to limit vertical movement of said resilient shock absorbing device upon compression thereof.

2. A resilient shock absorbing device for a dual sliding sill comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced follower blocks, a plurality of resilient pad units disposed between said blocks, said resilent pad units each including a metal plate, resilient compressible pads molded on said metal plates on the opposite faces thereof, said resilient compressible pads of each of said units being in face-to-face relationship, horizontal shoulders formed on the upper ends thereof and projecting outwardly of the sides so as to be supported on yoke leg means of said dual sliding sill, and at least some of said metal plates having bendable tabs projecting horizontally from the sides of said plates along the lower ends thereof so as to underlie said yoke leg means of said dual sliding sill and thereby to limit vertical movement of said resilient shock absorbing device upon compression thereof.

3. The invention a defined in claim 2 wherein said bendable tabs are bent at an angle of about 60 relative to the plane of said plates.

4. In a dual sliding sill having a pair of sill sections movable lengthwise relatively to each other, yoke means mounted for movement with one of said sill sections, a resilient shock absorbing unit opening in the other of said sill sections, said yoke means being alignable with said opening, and a resilient shock absorbing device disposed within said other of said sliding sill sections, said resilient shock absorbing device comprising a pair of longitudinally spaced follower blocks, a plurality of resilient pad units disposed between said blocks, said resilient pad units each including a metal plate, resilient compressible pad mean fixed to the opposite faces of said plate, said follower blocks and said resilient pad units being disposed within said opening transversely to the longitudinal axis of said sill sections with said compressible resilient pads in face-to-face relationship, horizontal shoulders formed on the upper ends thereof and projecting outwardly of the sides thereof so as to overlie and be supported on said yoke means, and at least some of said metal plates having bendable tabs horizontally projecting from the lower end of the sides of said plates to underlie said yoke means and thereby to limit vertical movement of said resilient shock absorbing device upon compression thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/57 Spence et al. 2l3-40 6/63 Lich 2138 

1. A RESILIENT SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR A DUAL SLIDING SILL COMPRISING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED FOLLOWER BLOCKS, A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT PAD UNITS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID BLOCKS, SAID RESILIENT PAD UNITS EACH INCLUDING A METAL PLATE, RESILIENT COMPRESSIBLE PADS ON SAID METAL PLATES ON THE OPPOSITE FACES THEREOF, SAID RESILIENT COMPRESSIBLE PADS OF EACH OF SAID UNITS BEING IN FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIP, OUTWARDLY PROJECTING HORIZONTAL SHOULDER FORMED ON THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID FOLLOWER BLOCKS AND SAID METAL PLATES, SAID SHOULDERS BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID FOLLOWER BLOCKS AND SAID RESILIENT PAD UNITS ON YOKE LEG MEANS OF SAID DUAL SLIDING SILL, AND AT LEAST SOME OF SAID METAL PLATES HAVING TABS ALONG THE LOWER PORTIONS THEREOF BENT AT AN ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE PLANE OF SAID PLATE SO AS TO BE ADAPTED TO UNDERLIE THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID YOKE LEG MEANS OF SAID DUAL SLIDING SILL SO AS TO LIMIT VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID RESILIENT SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE UPON COMPRESSION THEREOF. 